Apparatus for operating velocipedes and other machines



2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

F. ROURK.

Vel'pede.

Patented May 18, 1869.

2 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

F. ROURK.

Velocpede.

Patented May- 18, 1869.

UNITED STATES V PATENT QEEICE,

FRANCIS ROURK, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING VELOCIPEDES AND OIHER MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 90,310, dated May 18, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANCIS ROURILM. D., of Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Operating Velocipedes and other Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description ol' the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in such acombination of levers and cranks in such a position as to enable a man to operate them with ease and in such a manner as to greatly increase his weight on the said levers and cranks, and also to greatly increase his natural force. The said power may be applied to a variety of purposes. In the accompanying drawings 1 have applied it to the propelling of a velocipede. It may with equal ease be applied to the propelling of a shaft from which anykind of machineiy may be operated by an y desired mode ol' communicating power and motion.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view, and Fig. 2 is a top view, of my machine as applied to the propelling of a velocipede.

In the drawings can be seen the shaft or axle E, with its five cranks, D', D', C', C', and A', the levers D, D, G, C, and A, together with the connecting-rods D2, D2, G2, G2, and A2.

The manner in which I construct one of my machines is as follows: Irst construct a main shaft or axle, E, with the tive cranks D', D', C', C', and A', as shown in the drawings. To each of these cranks I attach connecting-rods or pitinen as follows: To the cranks D' and D', I attach the connecting-rods D2 and D2, which connect the levers D and D. To the cranks C' and C', I attach the connectingrods G2 and G2, which connect with the levers C and C at the seat B, and to the crank A', I attach the connecting-rod A2, which connects with the lever A, which has its fnlcrum on the cross-bar'K. The levers D, D, (.l, and C have their fulcra at their extremities farthest from the axle or shaft E--as, for example, at the pointsGand H. The levers C and C are connected at their extremities nearest to the axle E by a crossbar, B, which serves as a seat for the operator, and to the under side of which the pitmen C2 and C2 are attached hy means of staples, thereby giving play-room for the oscillating motion ofthe said pitmen.

The manner in which my machine is operated is as follows: The operator seats himself on the seat B and places his feet in the stirrups I I on the levers D D, and then grasps the lever A with his hand. He then (supposing the machine to stand as indicated in Fig. 1) pushes the lever A from him,bearing his whole weight on the seat B, continuingto do s o till it reaches its lowest point. He then transfers his weight to the levers D and D by standing on his feet, and draws theleverA toward him. This causes acom plete revolution ofthe shaft, and ofcourse the operation is so continued. Y

It will be noticed the operator is, by means of the action described, constantly increasing his own weight, and by the arrangement of the levers as described he is also increasing his natural force, makin g the power ofthe machine many times more than that of a man.

I claim- The shaft E, the cranks D', D', C', C', and A', the connecting-rods D2, D2, C2, C2, and A2, and thelevers D, D, C, C, and A, or their equivalents, when arranged and operated substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

FRANCIS ROURK, M. D. Witnesses: t

J No. K. HALLooK, THOMAS EvANs. 

